How Does Your Penis Measure Up? Let’s Break Down The Facts

Whether you want to admit it or not, most guys have measured their penises. You probably want to know how yours measures up to the “norm”—and what is the norm anyway? Here are the answers to those questions and more.

Small penises (1″ – 3″ when erect)

This is medically referred to as a “micropenis” since the average size of the erect adult micropenis is about 2.75”. The causes for a micropenis are many, but they may include a deficit of testosterone and the use of some fertility-based estrogen drugs by your mother during pregnancy.

Micropenises only develop in utero and can be treated immediately after birth with a boost of testosterone if identified. Unfortunately, while this boost may alleviate part of the issue, the penis rarely achieves normal size. As an adult, surgery can be performed to increase size, but it hasn’t been successful enough to become universally accepted.

Don’t be too alarmed—statistically speaking, this malady occurs in only about .6% of males. It sounds crazy but if you’ve made it to adulthood and still have a micropenis, you may want to consider yourself lucky. For many years, it was not unheard of for a child born with a micropenis to have gender reassignment surgery as an infant (with parental consent). Luckily, only twelve such surgeries took place from the ’60s to the 80’s and by the mid-’90s, this practice had virtually disappeared. If you’re thinking you fall short in the nether regions, the odds are, you probably don’t.

Medium penises (3″-6″ when erect)

This is where most guys live. Pulling together 17 different studies, King’s College London reviewed real data about penis size and concluded that the average erect penis was 5.2”. Since this is currently the most comprehensive study on penis size, men can have a collective sigh of relief because it throws a kink into the media narrative and our own misconception that six inches is the average length of an erect tallywacker.

However, real data about penis size differs from the perceived data about size. In a survey by UK based Health Bridge Limited, researchers asked men and women across Europe and North America what they thought the average penis size was. Inexplicably, participants overestimated the size of an average erect wang by anywhere from half an inch to one inch. When it comes to the size of your old chap, it’s safe to say that perception is not reality. Walt Disney be damned, it’s not a small world after all—it’s a medium sized one.

Large penis (6″-8″ when erect)

Since we’ve established that the flaccid unit isn’t an indication of the erect size, it’s worth noting that there is NO correlation between penis size and other body parts. So that guy with big feet or big hands? Rest easy, it just means he has big shoes and big gloves. Also, the ideas around the size of one’s penis and race are just that, ideas. The scientific studies that have been done concluded there is no data to suggest that non-white men have bigger ones than white men.

Interestingly, a study examining Kinsey Institute data found that the average erect member of male homosexuals was 6.3”. Like it or not, the size of your penis is largely determined by genetics. Of course, you could increase testosterone levels during puberty to augment the size of your John Thomas, but if you sport a medium sized penis, it would be ethically suspect for a doctor to go along with this.

There are tons of medical studies on pecker size but they all conclude that size is hereditary (excluding the medical condition of the micropenis). So save your money because there’s absolutely NO scientific data to suggest that penis pumps, enlargement pills, or bizarre exercises will increase the size of your equipment. If you fall into the large range and your partner likes it, cool. Consider yourself lucky. If not? No matter how hard you try, it is what it is.

Extra large penis (8″+ when erect)

Rest easy, my medium sized brethren; no matter what you think or what you think you’ve seen, the XL penises are a statistical anomaly. Of course they exist, but they’re few and far between. The man most often mentioned with the XL is adult film actor John Holmes who reported that his penis was between 10” and 16”. Based on my own anecdotal research, I’d probably say it’s closer to 10”.

What you don’t see in portrayals of the XL penises are the drawbacks, with the most obvious being the discomfort or potential damage of your partner. Sex is fun and shouldn’t be painful (unless you’re into that sort of thing but that’s a whole other can of worms). The threat of condom damage and exposure to STDs is a concern of the XLs, and then there’s the potential for limited foreplay. In the documentary film Exhausted, adult film actress Seka described oral sex with Holmes like fellating a telephone pole. Yikes! XL penises are out there but unless you’re born with one, you can’t grow one. Frankly, I’m not so sure why you’d want to.

The simple fact is, more than likely, your penis is average. You should stop comparing because, to be blunt, you get what you got. Learn to love it.